My Father's Shadow

Young brothers Remi and Akin are in for a joyful surprise: their distant father has shown up to take them on an adventure. Their rural Nigerian village is soon replaced by the bustling megacity of Lagos, where their father is chasing unpaid wages from recent months, with the boys in tow. The year is 1993, and elections are underway — but the promise of a brighter future is turning into political upheaval, echoed across radios and television screens.

In this magical film, Lagos is seen through the wondering eyes of children: everything is big, marvellous, and fun. Their journey through the city takes them from beaches to restaurants and an abandoned amusement park. Yet something feels off — a sense of unease is visible in the faces of the adults they encounter. This is a day the boys will remember forever.

Akinola Davies Jr’s debut feature is an autobiographical work, co-written with his brother. Its warm yet melancholic portrayal of a father-son relationship carries echoes of Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun (Spring Break 2023). It is the first Nigerian film ever to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival. At Cannes, it received an honourable mention from the Camera d’Or jury, which awards debut films.

Inari Ylinen